New Zealand: HelloFresh guilty of misleading subscriptions
Commerce Commission reported: 'HelloFresh New Zealand, a subsidiary of the largest meal-kit company in the world which operates in 18 countries pleaded guilty to misleading consumers into reactivating their subscriptions to the food delivery service. Commerce Commission Deputy Chair Anne Callinan says the case highlights growing concerns around subscription-based services. "This case should send a strong message to those who offer subscription-based services - you need to be transparent about your terms and ensure customers are giving informed consent when signing up to your service", says Ms Callinan'.
Source: comcom.govt.nz
M&S CEO pays tribute to Northern Ireland food & drink industry
M&S reported: "Stuart Machin, CEO of Marks & Spencer, paid tribute to the Northern Ireland food and drink industry in a keynote speech at the annual Northern Ireland Food & Drink Annual Dinner held in Belfast. Speaking at the event for the first time - and the first time an M&S CEO has addressed the audience at a NIFDA annual dinner - he showcased key local suppliers and announced major new investments in stores across the region. During his address, he highlighted how M&S works with Northern Ireland producers who could together create an entire day's menu for customers. For dinner: Gilfresh Produce (Loughgall, Co. Armagh) supplies carrots, swede, broccoli crowns, brussels sprouts, sweetheart cabbage, leeks, pumpkins and parsnips".
Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com
France: Carrefour acquires the organic store chain Le Grand Panier Bio
Carrefour is strengthening its position in the French organic food market with the integration of the 15 stores belonging to the organic retail chain Le Grand Panier Bio. The acquisition was carried out through So.bio, an organic supermarket chain that has been part of the Carrefour Group since 2018.
Source: bioecoactual.com
SPAR Gran Canaria receives the 2025 Best Potato Valorization Project Award for its support of the local agricultural sector
SPAR Gran Canaria has been awarded the 2025 Best Potato Valorization Project in Gran Canaria, in recognition of the chain's commitment to the primary sector and its continued support for this product, through initiatives such as the local potato agreement, which has been in place for sixteen years.
Source: maspalomas24h.uk
Starship Technologies robots roll into Germany as REWE goes live in Hamburg streets
Starship Technologies reports the launch of its delivery robots in Germany with REWE. These are hitting the streets of Hamburg. A REWE Lieferbot service is now live in Barmbek, offering thousands of households grocery deliveries, delivered in minutes.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
New leadership for Aldi in Portugal
The Aldi Nord Group has appointed Alexander Frech as CEO of Aldi Portugal, effective 1 November 2025. Aldi Portugal will see Alexander Frech take the reins from Wolfgang Graff, who will be stepping down at the end of 2025 after 25 years of service to the Aldi Nord Group in the Iberian Peninsula.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Australia: Coles and Liquorland bring the magic to Christmas, with more than 340 festive products
Coles Group reported: "This Christmas, Coles Finest is putting vegetables centre stage with a standout offering that will impress even the most devoted meat lovers. The Coles Finest Dukkah Spiced Cauliflower Kit 895g, is the result of two years of culinary innovation, transforming the humble vegetable into a true showstopper".
Source: colesgroup.com.au
UK: Asda to open nine new Express stores this week
Supermarket chain Asda is launching nine new Express convenience stores this week. Seven new London stores will open this week at Tower Bridge, Greenwich, Limehouse Station, Harringay, Deptford, Whetstone and the former Arsenal FC club shop at Finsbury Park station. Outside the capital, two new stores will also open this week in Botley (Southampton) and Stoke.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
French prosecutors request prison sentence for former Casino boss in corruption trial
Prosecutors in the price manipulation and corruption trial of French supermarket group Casino and its former CEO, have requested a three-year suspended prison sentence and one-year under house arrest for Jean-Charles Naouri. Prosecutors also asked for Naouri, who led Casino for three decades, to be fined 2mln euros ($2.3mln) and the Casino group 75mln euros.
Source: reuters.com
Holland: Prosus to hold 98.19% of Just Eat Takeaway shares after offer
Prosus N.V. announced that an additional 8.06% of Just Eat Takeaway.com (JET) shares were tendered during the post-closing acceptance period of its takeover offer, bringing its total ownership to 98.19% of JET's outstanding shares.
Source: au.investing.com
Mandarin Oriental to sell One Causeway Bay floors to Alibaba, Ant Group to for $925mln
Singapore-listed Mandarin Oriental International said that Alibaba and Ant Group have contracted to buy the top thirteen floors of the landmark One Causeway Bay tower in Hong Kong for $925mln.
Source: reuters.com
US: Online grocery sales hit $12.5bln in September fueled by increase in users
September was another strong month for online grocery sales. Sales reached a new high of $12.5bln in September 2025, marking a 31% increase over the previous year and the second consecutive month a record was set, according to the Brick Meets Click Grocery Shopper Survey, sponsored by Mercatus. September's total also increased compared to August, when sales reached $11.2bln.
Source: chainstoreage.com
US: Save Mart breaks ground on new Central Valley location
The Save Mart Companies celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new 52,000-square-foot Save Mart store at Sequoia Marketplace, located at the northeast corner of Bardsley Avenue and Mooney Boulevard in Tulare, California. The regional grocer's new store is slated to open in the third quarter of 2027. According to the West Coast retailer, the Tulare location will offer a fresh-forward design with full-service produce, meat, deli, bakery and floral departments.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Neighborhood favorites, delivered: DoorDash expands grocery selection with new partnerships
DoorDash reported: "Now available on DoorDash - Busch's Fresh Food Market (Southeast Michigan): With sixteen stores, Busch's Fresh Food Market is a trusted one-stop shop offering fresh produce, bakery goods, deli items, and everyday essentials; Chavez Supermarket (California): A family-owned Hispanic supermarket chain with fifteen stores, Chavez Supermarket is recognized for its high-quality meats, fresh produce, baked goods, and taquerias; Crest Foods (Oklahoma): Operating ten family-owned locations, Crest Foods has served Oklahomans since 1946 with affordable, high-quality groceries; Rainbow Grocery Cooperative (San Francisco, California): A worker-owned cooperative in the Mission District since 1975, Rainbow Grocery offers one of the widest selections of organic and locally sourced products at affordable prices; RPCS, Inc. (Southwest Missouri & Eastern Kansas): With thirty-six stores under banners including Price Cutter, Ramey, Country Mart, King Cash Saver, and King Food Saver, RPCS, Inc. has brought value and variety to Midwest shoppers for decades".
Source: about.doordash.com
Walmart Canada's most advanced distribution centre opens in Vaughan, Ontario
Walmart Canada reported: "Walmart Canada officially opened its most advanced distribution centre in Vaughan, Ontario. The 550,000-square-foot facility, which is the retailer's first Ambient Distribution Centre (ADC) in Canada, leverages cutting-edge automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence to deliver products to families across Ontario with greater speed and reliability".
Source: walmartcanada.ca
